Learning to crochet

[DigApony]

So after weeks of watching many tutorials and getting no where, yesterday it clicked after watching about 100 times an American tutorial the woman was brilliant. So I finally feel like I've started to gets to grips with the granny square. Obviously it's a bit messy/loose but it's so fast and enjoyable compared to the knitting I've been doing. But I live in a tiny town and my only option for yarn was some awful stuff which keeps splitting. What would anyone recommend so I can order some from Amazon today?

This is my first try at a granny square feel free to points out my many mistakes I can see I've missed a few stitches.

Stylecraft special DK is a good all-rounder. 100% acrylic (so easily washable and dryable, a must with dcs!), great range of colours and around £1.69-£1.89 a ball.

I use www.woolwarehouse.co.uk or www.deramores.com both often having offers on.

Happy hooking!

Which tutorial was it?

I'm terrible at links but it jayda knits

That's amazing, Dig.

That looks absolutely fantastic for a first attempt! I also live in a small town with no yarn shop, and order a lot online from Deramores. Cotton mix yarns are particularly good for crochet, something like James C Brett cotton on would be a good budget yarn to start with.

I've just started (Mother's Day present) and just used wool from asda, pound shop and b&m

These were taken a couple of weeks ago so are bigger but here's my offerings...

Stylecraft Special DK is lovely, I was advised to use it by the Woolly Hugs harmonies. I ordered from WoolWarehouse and was really impresed.

Like you I'm a knitter who's new to crochet. I learned via YT tutorials and really like the Royal Sisters blog. Worth a look if you haven't seen already.

Yarnies not harmonies

Deramores is the best place, IMHO, for yarn and/or supplies.

I'm only finding places to buy Jayda Knits under that name.

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I also learned from that same you tube tutorial, it just clicked.
I buy my wool from Wilko's and B+M.
Am just starting my 3rd blanket! It's so addictive!

Sorry have been out, it is actually jayda institches. I've been desperate all day to return to my square

Aah! I love 'Jayda in Stitches' - she's Canadian btw. I think.
I battled the granny for aaaages before finding her tutorial and having my eureka! moment. She actually explained the 'why' as well as the 'how' which made all the difference for me. I actually sent her fan mail via Facebook about how great her tutorials were and she was really nice to boot!
I've done her fab hat tutorial and some flowers too now - and am on my 3rd blanket.

Wander over to the wooly hugs board & have a look at some of the ongoing projects. Loads of advice, friendly hookers () and if you want to you can ask them to send you some wool that you can make into a granny square and then send back to be part of a mumsnet made blanket for someone who really needs one.

Sorry didn't realise she was Canadian I actually thought of telling her how brilliant her instructions are. I couldn't get past the creating the circle with all the others!
Wow fertility that's amazing, did you create small squares for your blankets or all one piece? really want to get myself a bag to carry it all around in

bethintx is also very good (youtube). Although I still blame her for my not getting any housework done for about a year!

I crochet & knit all my bigger projects in Stylecraft Special DK, it makes a large baby blanket a very cost effective gift. The Wool Warehouse stocks an excellent variety of yarns and accessories and has really competitive postage too (I don't work for them but have used them for yarn since I started crocheting a couple of years ago ).

Google Attic24 for some crochet blanket, bag & wreath inspiration.

Other good videos are on the Craftyminx crochet school website. The videos show both left & right handed too. They're pretty clear and they cover loads of topics like how to block.

I've just started to crochet too using Jayda. It's so addictive although your granny square looks much neater than mine. My first one went wrong in the middle but I kept going and ended up clicking on the third row, it ended up being an enormous blanket :-)

A new charity shop opened by me yesterday and I bought a lovely wicker basket for £2.50 to store my wool and also bought 16 balls of wool for 50p each. It is addictive!

When you fancy a new project this lady makes some gorgeous things (blankets and smaller projects) with very clear instructions :-)

attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet/

Euphemia that's lovely and neat. Can I ask what size needles everyone uses? I've moved down to a 3mm on the last three rows I've done it's definitely made a difference in my stitches being tighter.

I'm doing a big, bright, multicoloured blanket for DD - different sizes and colours of granny squares and sunbursts :) edging each one in a base colour for consistency otherwise it's one big happy mishmash and is looking quite lovely!
Am doing a 'granny ripple' one for my DM - it's the same stitches so not difficult, just a bit boring maybe as it's repetitive.
And I just finished one for new baby due soon - the one from Jayda's baby blanket tutorial except in stripes and with a really soft and cuddly yarn. I just love crochet!
All very easy but boy, do I feel proud of myself!

(The hat from Jayda is also really easy and it was great to have a nn-blanket project - would recommend when you're comfortable!)